Abstract

Context

Changes in cortisol metabolism due to altered activity of the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of hypertension, obesity and the metabolic syndrome. No published data exist on the activity of this enzyme in critical illness.

Setting

Patients

Main outcome measures

Serial plasma cortisol: cortisone ratios.

Measurements and main results

Plasma total cortisol cortisone ratios were determined serially after admission to the intensive care unit. As compared with controls, the plasma cortisol:cortisone ratio was significantly elevated in the sepsis and trauma cohorts on day 1 (22 ± 9, p = 0.01, and 23 ± 19, p = 0.0003, respectively) and remained elevated over the study period. Such a relationship was not demonstrable in burns. The ratio was significantly correlated with APACHE II (r = 0.77, p = 0.0008) and Simplified Acute Physiology Score (r = 0.7, p = 0.003) only on day 7 and only in the burns cohort. There were no significant correlations observed between total plasma cortisol or cortisone and sickness severity in the sepsis and trauma cohorts.

Conclusions

In critically ill patients, there is evidence of altered cortisol metabolism due to an increase in 11β-HSD activity as demonstrated by an elevation of plasma cortisol: cortisone ratios. Further studies with larger sample sizes specifically designed to examine altered tissue 11β-HSD activity and its clinical significance and correlation with outcome are warranted.